Mary Allen
Has your dog rolled in something unsavory or taken a mud bath? Sometimes there is simply no way around a bath with shampoo and some dog owners then use baby shampoo or their own shampoo, according to the motto “What’s good for babies can’t be bad for dogs.” Unfortunately, it does, because dog skin differs significantly from human skin.
How is Dog Skin Different from Human Skin?
Dog skin is actually structured significantly differently than human skin. For example, it has no sweat glands in most parts of the body, and hair growth depends on the season (keyword change of coat). However, the following differences are particularly important for skin and coat care using shampoos:
- Human skin has a natural skin pH of 5.5, while canine skin has a pH of 7.5. As a result, dogs also have a different skin flora than humans.
- Dog skin is thinner: The human epidermis is 10 to 15 layers of cells thick, while the dog skin has only 3 to 5 layers in this area. Active ingredients in shampoos penetrate the skin in a completely different way.
- Dog skin regenerates faster than human skin. The dog’s epidermis renews itself in just under three weeks, while the thicker human epidermis takes four weeks to do so. Good news for all dog owners who have a four-legged skin patient at home.
Which Shampoo is Suitable for Dogs?
Certainly not shampoos for humans, because these are usually “skin-neutral”, i.e. adjusted to the pH value of 5.5 of human skin in order not to disturb the skin barrier and the natural skin flora. They are poison for the protective skin flora of our dogs and they dry out the thin dog skin. If there is nothing else to hand in an emergency, healthy dog skin can cope with a one-off wash with baby shampoo, but you are not doing it any good with such a supposedly “mild” shampoo.
If your dog’s skin is healthy, a simple dog shampoo tailored to the special features of the dog’s skin is sufficient. In the interest of your four-legged friend, however, you should make sure that it does not smell too strongly.
Our tip: Many manufacturers of medical dog shampoos also have a caring “basic shampoo” or a skin-soothing shampoo for mild cleaning of the dog’s skin in their range. With such a dog shampoo, you can be sure that the composition corresponds to the current knowledge about the optimal care of the dog’s skin.
Do I Even Have to Bathe My Dog?
In the USA it is customary to bathe every dog regularly and also in this country many dogs are shampooed weekly. But is that really necessary? Is it bad for the dog to bathe regularly? Or is it harmful not to bathe your four-legged friend regularly?
Basically, a regular bath with a dog shampoo is not harmful to healthy dogs, but it is not absolutely necessary either. Unless your dog is a breed that requires special grooming and you can’t keep his coat clean and tangle-free without regular bathing. Otherwise, bathing “as needed” will do if your dog is really dirty.
Tip: Get your dog used to being bathed or showered by a puppy so that the process is stress-free for everyone. A systematic “skin and coat check” from head to paws should be part of the daily routine. You can do it by the way while cuddling.
Regular bathing with special veterinary shampoos is an important part of treatment for skin problems such as itching, dry, greasy, or scaly skin, and allergies. The shampoo treatment can be sensibly supported with special skincare products for dogs with sensitive skin. and the right nutrition with special diets also makes an important contribution to optimizing the skin’s metabolism in skin diseases.